TOMS RIVER, NJ – Ben Giovine, a Democrat candidate running for mayor in Toms River said he would support offshore windmill projects as long as they are done in a way that ‘will not have visible or adverse effects to Toms River’s barrier community’.
After being asked by voters this weekend regarding his stance on offshore wind farms, Giovine said there are no wind farms affecting Toms River beaches at this time. He did not say that during his 9 to 5 federal job that his office openly supports Phil Murphy’s massive wind farm projects off the Jersey Shore.
“As Mayor, I will ensure that our community is communicating with the State and other Federal stakeholders regarding windmills along our shoreline. Currently, there are no leases off the coast of Toms River beaches,” he said. “I will work with other shore communities to ensure that if any windmill development were to occur that it will not have visible or adverse effects to Toms River’s barrier community.”
Giovine works for U.S. Congressman Andy Kim, who has openly supported and campaign for New Jersey’s offshore wind energy projects.
Giovine was quickly criticized for attempting to dodge the issue.
“So, cutting to the chase, you support the building of the wind turbines. Which basically means you’re going along with Murphy’s agenda. Wind turbines have been a disaster wherever they’ve been constructed,” said resident Richard Pelati.
In April, Giovine, as an employee of Andy Kim’s congressional office was part of a condemnation of what is being termed by fellow Democrats as a far-right-wing conspiracy theory. Kim was among nine New Jersey Democrat Congresspeople who slammed local officials for claiming wind turbine construction was related to 2023’s uptick in whale deaths at the Jersey Shore.
“Opponents are funding attempts to blame offshore wind pre-construction activity for marine mammal deaths without scientific evidence,” Kim said.
Giovine is Andy Kim’s District Director, the Congressman’s second-ranking staff member.